Chinese tourist numbers could drop by 10-20% during the upcoming Lunar New Year as travelers’ confidence in safety has diminished. This follows an incident involving a Chinese actor who was targeted by a human trafficking gang using Thailand as a gateway, according to the Association of Thai Travel Agents (Atta).
Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn, Atta’s president, mentioned that the impact on tourism might be minimal if the government and relevant authorities act swiftly to rebuild confidence.”
This is crucial to assure visitors that Thailand is a safe destination, free from scammers, and that security measures are robust against illegal activities predominantly orchestrated from neighboring countries.
“As the news was widely spread and discussed in China, the tourism industry will undoubtedly be impacted. However, we forecast that it might not be as severe as feared earlier, especially after the police were able to help the actor within a few days,” said Mr. Sisdivachr.
He emphasized the importance of cooperation from the Chinese government, particularly in educating the public about the deceptive strategies used by scammers. These include offering fake job opportunities and employing Chinese-speaking individuals to specifically target Chinese nationals.
Despite this, Sisdivachr indicated that Thailand might not experience significant growth in Chinese tourism in 2025.
Based on the 6.73 million Chinese arrivals recorded in 2024, it is anticipated that Thailand will attract at least 7 million Chinese tourists this year.
Sisdivachr mentioned that most Chinese tourists are likely to continue traveling within their country or choose nearby destinations like Japan, which has become more attractive due to its weak yen. Additionally, Japan plans to further relax visa restrictions for Chinese nationals this year.
“There’s no sign that Beijing will support outbound tourism as regularly seen in the period before the pandemic. Due to the sluggish economy, Chinese are being encouraged to travel domestically. Many cities have also developed new attractions equipped with much better standards to entice both domestic and international visitors,” he said.
Sisdivachr warned that Thailand could lose its status as a prime destination for Chinese tourists if it fails to introduce appealing new offerings.
While the Thai government has ambitious plans to increase tourism revenue through entertainment complexes, including casinos, these might not be enough to draw back the Chinese market. Many travelers who are interested in gambling already consider Macau a convenient and affordable alternative.
Moreover, the segment of Chinese tourists interested in casinos is relatively small compared to those attracted to other types of tourism products.
